As the Kurdish Institute of Istanbul since the year of 1992, we want to
change people’s ideas and attitudes towards the Kurdish language, literature and history. With this
aim at hand, we do research, publish books, magazines, etc. and prepare workshops to teach
Kurdish. We do our best to teach Kurdish according to scientific and
pedagogical methods and techniques. We try to help our students to improve
themselves in all four skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening).
Unfortunately, we can’t work as we wish due to the
official limitations and lack of financial support. Despite this, many people
come to the Kurdish Institute of Istanbul and learn Kurdish (both Kurmancî and
Kırmanckî).
Although we don’t teach in Kurdish, we teach Kurdish.
We teach Kurdish both as a mother tongue and as a second language. Our purpose
is to teach Kurdish. We teach it in three different levels. In the first level,
we teach Kurdish to people who are beginners in Kurdish. In the second level,
there are two different groups of students; those who can speak in Kurdish and
those who complete the first level. The students who can speak in Kurdish learn
how to read and write in Kurdish and they are introduced the written language
and the grammatical features of the language in this level. Those who complete
this level have to pass the speaking exam after they pass the written exam.
Then, they can go on with the third level. In this level, they learn Kurdish
grammar as well as the written language.
Students who complete the third level successfully can
join the studies of the Kurdish Institute and attend the teachers’ course.
After this, they can teach Kurdish as a member and an activist of the Kurdish
Institute.
You’re welcome to come and learn Kurdish and then
become a teacher and supporter of Kurdish!
(Samî TAN)
(Translated by Gülşen Erdoğan)